Ministry Of Health: Foreign Doctors For Transfer Of Science And Filling Out Vacancies

UNSPLASH/Natanael Melchor ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Azhar Jaya said the main goal of foreign doctors being brought in was to transfer knowledge to local doctors, besides filling the vacancy of medical personnel.

Azhar said the transfer of knowledge was like in a number of hospitals, for example for heart or lung transplants, because Indonesia had never done it.

As for foreign doctors in remote areas, he said that his party was waiting for a response from parties in areas who needed doctors. If an area lacks, he said, the service or hospital reports to the Ministry of Health, then they match the data before sending the required foreign doctor.

"If it turns out that a foreign doctor is needed, then can it be done. Because we don't want anyone to. So the point is that foreign doctors don't like those touted there," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 9.

In addition, he said, according to Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health, foreign doctors are a maximum of only two years.

"Of course, if a foreign doctor wants to come here, of course, we will pay according to the existing budget, according to existing standards. If for example they ask for high standards, then of course it's another matter," said Azhar.

As for his response to the statement of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) in order to prioritize public doctors by providing incentives, he said that his party would issue further regulations.